Sleep earbuds help you catch some ZZZs
What are sleep earbuds and how do they work?
Sleep earbuds are worn at night, designed to help block distracting noises to help you get to sleep more quickly and ultimately get more restful sleep.
Sleep earbuds are essentially the same as earplugs, but while standard foam earplugs can help reduce ambient noise, they aren't as effective at eliminating low-frequency sounds. Sleep earbuds, however, are made from different materials like silicone and aerospace aluminum that contour better to your ears and provide a snug seal for passive noise reduction. Some of them include high-tech features like a built-in battery and active noise cancellation to further block out noise. Some even work with an app to play soothing nature sounds or white noise to lull you to sleep by calming your mind, reducing stress, and making unwanted noises less noticeable.
The idea of sleep earbuds is to block out distracting noises, like a partner snoring or noisy neighbours, so you can get a better night's sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. They can even help stimulate serotonin, which is the chemical in your brain that makes you feel good.
What should you look for in sleep earbuds?
Look for a pair of sleep earbuds that are made from a comfortable and flexible material, like silicone, that contours to the shape of your ears and offers a snug fit for maximum noise-blocking while also being comfortable to wear all night.
This means finding a size that will fit properly in your ears: some sleep earbuds are designed to be smaller, some larger, and some come with different-sized ear tips depending on the style and type.
If you are interested in wireless earbuds for sleeping that play music, look for ones that offer a good mix of soothing sounds, from rustling leaves to falling rain or even just basic white noise. For sleep earbuds that offer active noise cancellation, there should be an option to turn this off for situational awareness if desired.
Are sleep earbuds safe to wear at night?
Sleep earphones are totally safe to wear at night though you should keep a few things in mind. If you are using ones that play sounds, never crank the volume too high such that they can damage your eardrums over time.
Wearing earplugs of any kind can cause wax to build up in your ears since they block the air circulation, so be diligent about keeping your ears clean. To prevent sleep earbuds from irritating the skin around your ear canal, make sure to find a material that won't bother you and that fits snugly; and give your ears a break from wearing them every now and then.
Finally, for safety reasons, consider an alternative to wearing noise cancelling earbuds for sleeping if you're alone in the house. Use a radio, white noise machine, or leave the television on with the volume low to help you fall asleep instead.